Exploring Life & Business with Paula Liebeskind

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paula Liebeskind, Au.D, CCHt, NLPP.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a child, I began to learn sign language from my cousin, a teacher for the deaf, which started a process of lifelong learning around effective hearing and communicating. In college, I studied deaf psychology and later earned my Doctorate in Audiology.

For the past 35 years, I have helped those with hearing loss – including musicians, school children, and retirees — to improve their hearing health and their ability to fully engage in work and in life through leading-edge aural rehabilitation strategies, that is, approaches to repair physical causes of hearing loss and brain-based abilities to listen and comprehend.

Eight years ago, I became a Certified Clinical Hypnosis Practitioner; Reiki Master, and Sound Healer. I believe that sound is energy and that by working through these holistic practices I can assist people to access the 90% of their brains that they may not currently engage. This allows people to increase their capacity to hear and understand more; get relief from tinnitus and other physical issues and be more effective in their lives.

Often people perceive communication solely in terms of speaking. I have a unique perspective that helps people to expand their capabilities by first becoming mindful listeners. Doing so has profoundly changed my clients’ lives in unexpected ways. Some of the benefits of my clients’ reports are:

• Less stress or anxiety
• Greater productivity
• Higher levels of self-esteem and confidence
• Deeper connections and stronger relationships
• More restful sleep
• Reduction of pain
• Lessening of symptoms of clinical disorders such as tinnitus.

I teach mindful listening skills and aural rehabilitation to individuals and groups and I lead directive meditation and hypnosis in conjunction with my conventional audiology practice.

Additionally, I do speaking engagements across southern Florida and am actively engaged in networks for women entrepreneurs. I am currently writing a book that brings all of my knowledge and experience to the general public, entitled: The Science of Hearing; The Soul of Listening.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My mom always told me that life never goes in a straight line and it would probably be boring if it did. So yes, I have had many obstacles and challenges along the way. There have been challenges in both my personal and business lives and since both are intertwined they each affected the other.

Being bullied as a child by my peers led me into a toxic first marriage. Thankfully I moved on from that and moved from New York to Florida. Unfortunately, as I was divorcing my first husband both of my parents became terminally ill and transitioned within 6 weeks of each other. In addition, I had very close family members with addiction issues which also affected me.

Grief counseling was vital to my survival and made me more aware, sensitive, and empathic to the feelings of others. Businesswise, I had people who did not wish me well; cash flow issues; bad breakups with business partners. Thankfully I learned to be quite resourceful and I have an amazing support system to help me problem solve

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Because I discussed my work above, I would like to take this time to share one of my favorite ways to de-stress; in 3 steps

1. Take at least 20 minutes per day to detach from all of your concerns. Turn off your phone and computer. Allow yourself to visualize putting all of your concerns and worries in the basket of a hot air balloon and then picture that balloon drifting up into the sky and away from you. This allows you to clear your mind, at least temporarily. If you really want those concerns back after your 20-minute relaxation you can always bring the balloon back to earth and take those concerns back. If you do this every day consistently, soon you will not want to bring that balloon back.
2. For those 20 minutes listening to a peaceful guided meditation. People often tell me they cannot clear their minds and quiet their brains or that they don’t know how to meditate. Listening to a guided meditation alleviates this.
3. If you cannot do 20 minutes, start with 5 minutes. No pressure. People whose brains are constantly active, may not be able to go from 0 to 20 minutes. So go from 5 and increase it incrementally each day. If you are already easily doing 20 minutes, increase it. Did you know that 20 minutes of a peaceful meditation can feel like 4 hours of deep sleep?
4. For me the number one thing that matters to me is family. Also friendship. It is important to me to have quality in my relationships. Quality and clarity in communication and connection. It matters to me to surround myself with peace in my business and my personal life.

I have learned to live each day being the best version of myself I can be. For me, this means no longer feeling pressure to never make mistakes or to fail at something because mistakes and failure are just feedback and open the door for new opportunities. It is also important to me to help others and support them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @askdrpaula
• Facebook: facebook.com/askdrpaula
• Twitter: @askdrpaula